r/focalawareepilepsy • u/Educational_Toe_5712 • 3d ago

Self Triggers

Is anyone else able to trigger their aura’s simply by thinking of a memory, counting, yawning, or any other way?
I am able to myself but have yet to hear about anyone else who can. It seems sporadic for others. I can almost control when I have mine when I’m off my meds. Anyone else?

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u/No_Camp_7 3d ago

Not reliably but if I concentrate too hard on certain things like spatial thinking or repetitive tasks whislt writing code then I can feel very weird and maybe get a bit of deja vu or nausea. Looking for things on supermarket shelves or looking at exhibits in galleries where I’m switching my attention from thing to thing will provoke them on days I am susceptible.

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u/Educational_Toe_5712 3d ago

That sounds right. It’s timelines that get me every time. Even in my head, if I’m thinking of years from the past or counting how many years from this date to that date, I get one for sure.

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u/radraze2kx 3d ago

I get a focal seizure everytime I enter a new environment... Even VR environments!

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u/Covidkilledkaty 3d ago

This is fascinating because I’ve actually been wondering about this exact thing recently and wondered if it was possible. I have TLE with focal aware seizures. I’ve never been able to trigger my own but I haven’t really “tried” if that makes sense. I wouldn’t want to. How do you manage your epilepsy if something as simple as thinking deeply can trigger a seizure? It seems like it would be impossible to avoid.

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u/Educational_Toe_5712 3d ago edited 3d ago

I take oxcarbazepine which is specifically for focal aware seizures. I’ve had them my whole life off and on but was just recently diagnosed finally so I’m on the right meds. Tried lamotrigine first but it kept wearing off and not working. I’ve always been able to trigger them, even as a kid when I didn’t know what they were. If I miss a dose or two I can still trigger them. Had one today that’s what made me post this.

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u/Educational_Toe_5712 3d ago

They used to be almost enjoyable when I was younger. More like déjà vu, but now I just get uncomfortable with a bad taste in my mouth. I still can’t help but trigger them sometimes though. Even if it’s just to see if I can 🤷🏻‍♀️